Researchers at ICFO, The Institute of Photonic Sciences are using attosecond soft-X-ray pulses to dissect how materials respond to light at the level of electron motion. Jens Biegert, ICREA Research Professor at ICFO, explains the goal is to move beyond observing that a material changes, to understanding what drives that change. “Answering this question requires following the interplay of electronic excitation, many-body interactions and coupling to the lattice as it unfolds,” says Biegert. His group has pioneered laser-induced electron diffraction, a technique enabling new ways to observe these fundamental material transformations and electronic dynamics.
Attosecond Spectroscopy Tracks Electron Dynamics and Energy Flow
Attosecond soft-X-ray pulses now resolve the detailed link between light and material change by tracking electron behavior with precision. Researchers are using this technique to map energy flow within materials, moving beyond simply observing a response to light and instead identifying the specific mechanisms driving that change. This detailed understanding relies on measurements resolving events on the attosecond timescale, one quintillionth of a second, revealing how electrons initially absorb energy from light and subsequently transfer it to the material’s atomic lattice.
Jens Biegert’s group at ICFO pioneered laser-induced electron diffraction, a method for visualizing these fleeting electronic transitions and molecular transformations. The ability to resolve these processes is not merely academic; it opens avenues for controlling material properties with light, potentially leading to new technologies in areas like energy harvesting and advanced materials design.
ICFO’s work builds on a strong foundation in quantum science and photonics, supported by research laboratories dedicated to ultrafast lasers and nanomaterials. ICFO’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of attosecond science is reflected in recent achievements beyond spectroscopy. In August 2026, a team including Antonio Acín published a deterministic entanglement swapping scheme in Quantum Science and Technology, demonstrating progress in quantum networks. Simultaneously, ICFO researchers, collaborating with institutions including the Université de Bordeaux and Argonne National Laboratory, reported control of a carbon nanotube’s motion at the zero-point scale through coupling to a double quantum dot.
Biegert’s distinctions include Optica’s 2026 C.E.K. Mees Medal and the Bessel Prize from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, recognizing his contributions to the field. These advancements demonstrate ICFO’s position as a leading center for research into the fundamental interactions governing matter and light, and its dedication to translating those discoveries into practical applications.
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